Gerlack &bloodgorgers & Boomhowler

[Cassiaus]

Point for point which would you go. primary use would be meat shield for Venny.but want something for other casters too.

[Sanctjud]

How much do you value tough and a ranged weapon?
Gorgers a way better in melee.

Personally, neither.

[blakeh1]

Boomhowlers have more staying power if your looking for a tarpit unit. Boomhowler can howl tough on 4, 5 or 6 so you have a 50% chance instead of 33% chance of making your tough roll. They arm ARM 16 and the leader is a model with 8 wounds. Downside is they are not fearless and are 1 pt more expensive, plus do not benefit from in faction feats/effects, and are knocked down when making a tough roll (assuming your bringing Gerlak and leeping him close enough to the Bloodgorgers). Sure Boomholwer can use his howl to stand them up, but then you're giving up your 4 plus tough roll which I think is the better deal.

They do not have the nearly the melee offensive capabilites that Bloodgorgers have. Two attacks, with Gang makes the Bloodgorgers hit as hard, as well as more accurately but you get to do it twice. Even without gang, you've got the same chance to hit. Stack on the debuffs like Parasite and they can wreck stuff. Boomhowlers can CMA, which may come in handly trying to take out a really high DEF model with 2 or 3 of them though.

With Deneghra however, having a range attack actually comes in handy since they go up to effective RAT 6 (7 for Boomhowler himself) and POW 14. Against a knocked down and debuffed caster (scourge + parasite) on her feat turn that becomes pretty deadly. I've had a couple of caster kills from a debuffed caster being shot by Boomhowler and his crew on her feat turn. Even outside the feat turn, Deneghra has Crippling Grasp to basically give them a RAT buff against a unit/model.

I would say if your looking for a bodyguard/LOS blocking tarpit unit that will not be doing much front line melee, but will be more like a second wave unit taking pot shots on the feat turn then Boomhowlers unit is the way to go. If you want an aggressive front line unit to tie things up, Bloodgorgers/Gerlak will be the way to go. In the end, Boomhowlers usually last longer, but don't do much killing, while Bloodgorgers don't last as long, but those that are around excel at killing.

I think the faction benefiting the most from Boomhowlers unit is Cygnar. With the UA that makes them faction models you can arcane shield them making them jump up to 19 ARM, chant 4+ tough, plus give them go to ground. They become really hard to chew through then.

I really wish we had a UA that could turn mercs into friendly faction models. If so, Boomhowlers crew would be a near autoinclude in my Epic Skarre lists for synergy with Death Ward and Black Spot. Of course the reason we will probably never get one though is because of the Nyss Hunters